Conference hosted by county education office to kick off in Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS - More than 1,000 educators are expected to descend on Indian Wells on Wednesday, Sept. 11 for the sixth annual Excellence Through Equity Conference, hosted by the Riverside County Office of Education.

Employees of 49 California school districts, multiple county offices of education, universities and representatives from the state Department of Education are expected to attend the two-day event at the Renaissance Indian Wells Resort to focus on "student voice in continuing efforts to achieve equitable learning environments in public schools,'' according to organizers.

"When nearly 1,200 educators choose to lean in and listen to student voices as part of committing to equitable practices in their schools, there is a tremendous opportunity to not only impact individual lives, but fundamentally transform the systems and processes that power public schools across our county, our state, and our nation,'' said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Judy White.

Keynote speakers will include Remi Adeleke, an actor, writer and former Navy SEAL who immigrated to the United States from Nigeria; Father Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, a nonprofit youth program intended to help former gang members; Chris Emdin, a professor, researcher and author of several books about minorities in the education system, including "For White Folks Who Teach In The Hood''; and Victor M. Rios, a professor who has also authored several books about minority education, including "Human Targets: Schools, Police and the Criminalization of Latino Youth.''